Explanation:
Bright clusters and nebulae abound in the ancient northern
constellation of
Auriga.
The region
includes the open star cluster
M38, emission nebula
IC 410 with
Tadpoles, Auriga's own
Flaming Star Nebula IC 405, and
this interesting pair
IC 417 (lower left) and NGC 1931.
An imaginative eye toward the expansive
IC 417
and diminutive
NGC 1931
suggests a cosmic
spider and fly.
About 10,000 light-years distant,
both represent young, open star clusters formed in interstellar
clouds and still embedded in
glowing hydrogen gas.
For scale, the more compact NGC 1931 is about 10 light-years across.